(a) Dutch elm disease which attacks and infects healthy elm trees in the City and other communicable tree diseases or insect infestations which are subject to spreading and by such spread of infection, injuriously affect public health, safety or welfare are hereby declared to be public nuisances.
(b) All trees so infected shall be treated or destroyed in accordance with regulations established by the Urban Forestry Board. All trees infected by communicable tree disease or pest infestations shall be treated so as to eliminate such communicable disease or pest infestation.
(c) The City Manager shall cause a written notice of infestation to be served upon the owner of the land, notifying that diseased, dead or dying elm trees or communicable tree diseases or pest infestations are located on such land and that they must be cut, removed, destroyed or otherwise treated within two weeks of the notice between May 1 and October 1, and within six weeks of the notice for the remainder of the year for trees suffering from Dutch elm disease, and such other period of time as the City Manager requires for such other communicable tree disease or pest infestation.
(d) If the owner of such land is a nonresident, whose address is known, such notice shall be sent to his address by certified mail, return receipt requested; if, however, the address of such owner is unknown, it shall be sufficient to publish such notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in the County.
(e) Upon failure of the owner having charge of lands mentioned in subsection (c) hereof, to comply with the notice provided in such subsection within the time therein specified. the City Manager shall cause such to be cut, removed and destroyed or otherwise treated and may employ necessary labor to perform such task.
(Ord. 6-1986. Passed 3-17-86.)